Putin calls Thatcher 'major politician'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed sympathy with Britain in connection with Monday's death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

“Thatcher was certainly one of the most colorful political figures of the modern world,” Putin told reporters after talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

"I believe that we have lost a major politician, I'm sorry about this and would like to offer condolences on behalf of the Russian leadership to the British government and people," Putin told a news conference in Amsterdam.

Putin said Thatcher was "a pragmatic, tough and consistent person" and that these qualities had enabled her to help pull Britain out of economic crisis, for which people should be grateful despite the criticism she faced.

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